Agustin Herrera

he/him/his
Youth Engagement Specialist

Agustin Herrera is a formerly incarcerated youth that is currently the youth engagement specialist at Arts for Healing & Justice network. He was born & raised as a LA native in the west side of Los Angeles later to move to the Southeast of LA county. Agustin is an intermediate runner that likes to attend festivals / shows, as these are ways he’s able to rehabilitate his inner child to be able to show up at his fullest potential. He uses his experience as a way to testimony others away from similar mistakes. Agustin currently is in pursuit of his dream to become a chef as a skill he wishes to use to bring the community together. One reason Agustin is passionate about the work he does is simply to repair the damage he once caused in the community he grew up in, so as he works with AHJN you will see the progress on his journey excel.

ALYSSA C.

they/them/theirs
Operations Manager

Originally from Houston, Texas, Alyssa moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California, receiving their Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Ethnicity with a minor in Public Health in 2016. While at USC, Alyssa coordinated numerous student-driven programs during two years as Executive Director of the Queer and Ally Student Assembly. Finding a passion for advocacy, they have continued to do coalition and community work as LGBTQ+ Programming & Communications VISTA for the Health Equity Alliance and, most recently, as a Youth Advocate at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Alyssa is passionate about creating spaces for young people to express and explore their identities and experiences.

Alyssa is currently completing their Master’s in Counseling through Northwestern University with the goal of obtaining licensure as a Professional Clinical Counselor. When not working or in class, Alyssa likes to kayak and crochet (not at the same time).

CAMERON SIEBOLD

they/them/theirs
Program Director

Cameron is a non-binary, mixed-race life-learner. Born and raised in San Diego, CA, they have a deep-seeded love of culture and community. They received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Science, Technology, and Society from the University of Southern California in 2016, and worked extensively with USC's Queer and Ally Student Assembly as their Multiculturalism and Diversity Chair to provide programming to queer undergraduate students.

A self-identified gaymer and raver, Cameron has previously served as the Volunteer and Inclusivity Coordinator for the Queerness in Games Conference (QGCon) based out of Montreal, sat on the committee for the Long Beach LGBT Center's film festival (QFilms), and worked as a lead facilitator and co-organizer for the Non-Binary Union of Los Angeles (NBULA).

Cameron feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow alongside the Network, beginning as an administrative associate in 2019 to now serving as Program Director. Their approach to the work is highly relational and heart-centered, and is rooted in the belief that people should be met where they are without being kept where they're at.

Danny H.

they/them/theirs
Communications Coordinator

Danny (they/them) is a creative strategist and multimedia artist whose work is rooted in the Black radical tradition. They hold 2 Bachelor’s Degrees in African American Studies and Public Affairs from UCLA. Prior to coming to AHJN, they worked as a Digital Content Strategist at Backbone Digital Leaders, a digital agency that partners with local changemakers and movement leaders. Danny currently holds the position of Communications Coordinator at Arts for Healing and Justice Network.

Alongside their communications work, Danny is an open-format DJ and VJ. Their audio-visual style uplifts the voices of Black and Brown artists through bold colorways and futuristic elements. Their work, in particular, strives to highlight gender non-conforming and queer individuals throughout history and in our current time. Danny’s work has been featured at Black Market Flea, a bi-monthly flea market that highlights Black entrepreneurs, creatives, and the local community. 

DYONI ISOM

she/her/hers
Youth Leadership Manager

Dyoni Isom is a theater artist, educator, and the Youth Leadership Manager for the Arts for Healing and Justice Network. Raised in Arizona, Dyoni came to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College, where she received her BA in Theater and focused her studies on how art can be used as a tool for healing and social justice. After college, she assistant directed productions at Boston Court Pasadena, was an acrobatic performer in Occidental Children's Theater troupe, and was a co-founder of the Hantext Writing Group, a program for trans and queer playwrights of color to create new works and form community. In addition, Dyoni spent many years as an educator of theater and culinary arts, which fostered a commitment to working with and advocating for youth, particularly those who are often overlooked and harmed by the system. Dyoni believes it is only through empowerment and collaboration amongst our youth and communities that we can transform these systems. She is proud to continue the work of using art as a tool for fostering meaningful change, through working with AHJN.

Elida Ledesma

she/her/hers
Executive Director

Elida is the proud daughter of Mexican and Central American parents. A Southern California native, Elida is also a double Bruin, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Spanish from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Public Health, with a concentration in Community Health Sciences, from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Prior to working with the Arts for Healing and Justice Network she worked as a research assistant for the UCLA Department of Medicine on the RISE project, which examined adolescent risky behavior. Currently, Elida serves as the Executive Director of the Arts for Healing and Justice Network responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization including the strategic visioning and financial sustainability of the AHJN. Elida was also selected as a 2016-2017 Arts for LA Activate fellow, completing the Arts Education track. Her peer-reviewed article, "Health Implications of Housing Assignments for Incarcerated Transgender Women" was published in the American Journal of Public Health. Besides fighting for social justice, Elida enjoys reading and watching scary movies with her partner and two cats.

Garrett Barr

he/him/his
Director of Impact Research

Garrett Barr is a researcher and self-proclaimed "creative dabbler" from the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He serves as the Director of Impact Research at the Arts for Healing and Justice Network, which means he spends a lot of his time asking himself and others questions and examining the relationship between healing-informed arts and cultural programming and community wellbeing. In addition, he is learning what it means to truly be himself, how to build community power, and reconnecting with his creativity while supporting system impacted young people as they heal and grow. He is humbled and grateful to be in this work. A recovering people-pleaser, Garrett is a long-distance caretaker for his father and likes cooking, black and white photography, yoga, and music that moves his mind, body, and spirit. Before joining the AHJN team, Garrett worked for Johnson & Johnson's Global Public Health Group and the Aspen Institute. He holds a Masters of Public Health from UCLA's Fielding School and a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Jael Villanueva

they/them/theirs
Program Coordinator

Jael Villanueva is a nonbinary poet, flow artist, and LGBTQ+ youth crisis counselor from Los Angeles, CA. They are passionate about their work with youth as they aim to uplift and support queer young people in need. Jael will receive their BA in English Literature in 2022 from Cal State University Long Beach and has focused their studies on Indigenous, POC, and protest literature/journalism. While at CSULB, Jael was a founding member of the CSULB chapter of NLGJA, The Association for LGBTQ+ journalists. They have also spent time volunteering for organizations such as Mental Health Hookup and The Child and Family Center in order to assist in bringing light to the importance of mental health in both youth and adults.

During their free time, Jael thrives in nature; spending time outdoors, building their skills in metalwork, and wandering through LA's vast network of trails.

Julian Harris

he/him/his
Director of Youth Leadership

Julian Harris is the Director of Youth Leadership for the Arts for Healing and Justice Network. Coming from humble beginnings, Julian's biggest inspiration is his mother. Born in South Bend, IN, Julian moved to Orlando, FL when he was just two years old. His mother, Babette Allen, is a Program Director for Pathlight Homes (Housing for the Homeless in Central Florida) and has been working in that space for over 25 years. When Julian and his family first moved to Orlando, they were homeless which birthed his passion for serving in underdeveloped communities. Julian graduated from Florida A&M University with his Bachelors in Public Relations and started working for the City of Orlando as the My Brother’s Keeper Coordinator. Prior to working for the city, Julian spent some time as a substitute teacher in a Juvenile Detention Center in Orlando.

Julian’s skill set ranges from marketing, program planning, engaging in funding sustainability efforts; to disseminating progress and results to community leaders and stakeholders to encourage expanded support for non profits. As Julian likes to say, “I'm here to be a vessel."

Julietta Magaña-Pérez

they/them/theirs
Administrative Associate

I’m the Administrative Associate at AHJN! At the time of hiring, I was working part-time at a dance studio and my manager pushed me to apply for the role. She had connections to some Teaching Artists at Rhythm Arts Alliance and Project Knucklehead, which peaked my interest, being a dancer myself. Then I remembered, I had met Elida during one of my classes at the Armory when I was a grad student. That made me think that applying for the role was meant to be!

Outside of work you can find me taking various dance classes, going on picnics when it’s warm, enjoying an iced coffee at a cafe, occasionally dancing at festivals, going out to eat with my partner, and brushing up on my DJ skills!

Lindsey Eichenberger

she/her/hers
Director of Youth and Community Justice

Lindsey Lee Eichenberger is a zine-maker, educator and amateur historian born and raised in West LA. She was brought to this work by her love for political education, shared learning and being the eldest daughter in a system-impacted family. In her role at AHJN she helps to facilitate the political education of both youth and our members. As Director, she is working to build bridges across the organization to mobilize us all in the name of a shared goal: to end youth incarceration in Los Angeles. In her years working with arts organizations Lindsey has facilitated youth storytelling fellowships, writing workshops, nature programs and a year-long youth council focusing on park space. Lindsey received her MA in Education from Cal State LA where she now teaches as an adjunct lecturer. When not working you can find her gardening, cooking reading and yearning for all things analog.

Mora Greer

she/her/hers
Youth and Community Advocate

Rebekah Rose Ressler

they/them/theirs // she/her/hers
Program Manager

Rebekah Rose Ressler (they/she) is AHJN’s program manager. They were drawn to this work because they understand first hand the healing power that the arts hold to transform lives. They will forever be an advocate of supporting mental health through art. Rebekah has been working in the non-profit sector since 2014 supporting survivors of trauma. They received their BFA in Illustration from California State University Long Beach in 2021, and have been working in the arts ever since. Outside of their role with AHJN Rebekah is a muralist, yoga teacher, teaching artist, and consent educator. They have been painting murals both locally and nationally since 2019. In 2021 Rebekah received a grant from the California State Arts Council for Emerging artists, and in 2025 was awarded the Professional Artist Fellowship from the Long Beach Arts Council. When they are not painting, teaching or program managing– you can catch them walking to their local yoga studio to practice, liking photos of frogs on the internet, and finding any excuse they can to go wander around the forest (ideally near a body of water).

Slade Bellum

she/her/hers & they/them/theirs
Finance Director

Slade hails from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and is a proud Badger. She moved to San Francisco in the early 1980's to pursue a music career. After many years and many bands, Slade learned accounting and became the Finance Director for Community for a Better Environment (CBE). CBE transferred Slade to their Huntington Park office in 2001. In 2004 Slade moved to the Metropolitan Community Church as senior accountant. In 2008 Slade became the Finance Director for the Armory Center for the Arts. She also served on the Board of Side Street Projects. Slade joined AHJN as Finance Director in 2024. Slade lives with her wife, great dane and two cats in Mt. Washington.

Sylvanus Finney

he/him/his
Youth & Community Manager

Sylvanus Finney is the Youth and Community Manager for the Arts for Healing and Justice Network. His work focuses on leading at the intersection of creative liberation and systemic advocacy, empowering justice-impacted youth to reroute historical narratives through art and storytelling. By blending his background in communications with his training in expressive arts, Sylvanus creates transformative spaces where young people can reclaim their agency and move from systemic labels toward self-defined futures.

Before joining the AHJN team, Sylvanus built a multidisciplinary practice as a visual artist specializing in photography, video production, and oil painting. Driven by his passion for systemic change, Sylvanus began his professional journey as a Youth Advocate with First Place for Youth. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Justice and Communications from Cal State LA and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Expressive Arts Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Sylvanus lives in Los Angeles and, when he isn't behind a camera or at a canvas, he enjoys exploring the city’s vibrant art scene and finding new ways to bridge the gap between creative practice and communal healing.